Counterbalanced well pumping apparatus



y 3, 1954 D. KANE 2,683,424

COUNTERBALANCED WELL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig-.2

W Til E17 ZUZ' July 13, 1954 D. KANE COUNTERBALANCED WELL PUMPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5 1953 [2-2 FEM ZLU 2* .24 VA!) li /v5 Patented July 13, 1954 COUNTERBALANCED WELL PUMPING APPARATUS.

David Kane, San Antonio, Ifex. Application March 5, 1953, Serial No. 340,450

9 Claims. (Cl..103206) entinventi'ona linearly vreciprocalole pulley block actuated through .a stroke of predetermined length by a drive .means taking the form of a simple double-fasting piston type motor. A frame having guide rails supporting the pulley lock rises above thewell head of the well and positions the blocksuperjacent thewell head in registry therewith. Pulley means are, provided which cooperate with the movableblocl; as well as with the polish rod reciprocable in the well head of the deepwell pump so that the movable pulley block will be loaded in one direct-ion by the string of sucker rods and thedeep well pumping unit depending into the well from the end of the polish rod. A second pulley means is associated with the movable pulley block and includes. coun terweight means which effectively counter-halance the load imposed upon the pulley block by the weight ofthe deep well pump apparatus.

Since-the efiective counter-balancing of a well pumping apparatusv such as has been disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 271,528. is

limited at least in part by the physical height dimension of the framework rising above the well, there is speoifioallyprovided in accordance with the principles. of the, present. invention ime proved means for reducing the length of stroke of the counterweights.

According to the principles or the present invention, a block and tackle ring having at. least. a single whip is interposed in the pulley connection between the rec-iproca-blepulley block and the counterweights so that the ratio of the stroke of the pulley block and of the counterweights can be I more closely regulated and so that the counterweight mechanism can be more efiectivelyutilizedwith less wear and tear on the equipment.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved actuating apparatus for a deep well pumping unit which will operate at slow speeds and which will require the expend.- iture of less power than, has heretofore been r quired.

A'fmther .obiect of the present invention t provide an actuating means ior a d ep w pumping unit which will subject the pumping equipment and particularly a counterbalanced W611, unit to less wear and; tear.

Another object of; the present invention is to provide means in an actuating apparatus for a deep Well pumping unit wherein the ratio of stroke between the strolge of the counterweight and o s r k of he m vable pu le b s may be r ulate Yet another object oi the present invention is t prov d n impr ed oountor ial oins m nlsm. or a. de p. w l pum n uni M ny oth r adv nta es. feat r s and additional o e s r the. pre en n enti n. wi boccmo manifest. t ose vers d n he ar upo makin r ference to he. deta l d d sc p i n w c follows and th ac ompany shoot o drawin s. in which a p eiorro structur embodiment in rpor m he en a r nc es of the r s nt nv ntion i hown y way f illus rativo xample. nly.v

On the drawings:

Fi ure 1 is. an. elevational ew o an actuat r for a well pumpin unit incorp rating he principles of the present inventio Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus, shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating thev particularproblem presented in connection with a. counterbalanced pumping-unit; and

Figure 4; is a. diagrammatic view Similar to Figure 3 demonstrating the advantageous operating characteristics, of a pumping apparatus incorporating the principlesv of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The apparatus of the present invention is. particularly suited for actuatinga deep well pumping unit used for removing liquid, such as oil or water, from a. well W drilled in the ground G,

the usual well head being provided and indicated at it. The well head it. carries a stuffing box as at H through which a polish rod 82 projects. It will be understood that one end of the polish rod i2 is connected to. the uppermost sucker rod of a stringoi sucker rods having a, deep well pumping unit attached thereto in depending relation therewith in accordance with conventional well pumping practice.

According to the principles or" the present invention, an actuating apparatus indicated generally by the reference character L3 rises above th Well W and in ludos a p atform M ar yi an upstanding framework structure forming a support frame l6 conveniently fabricated from metal forms s c as angl rons or the ike- The support frame I6 includes two pairs of upright guide members H and it, each respective pair of guide members ll, ii and l8, l8 being spaced apart from one another as shown in Figure 2. The guide members I! are also spaced from the guide members l8 as shown in Figure 1 so that a vertically disposed track way is provided parallel to the axis of the well W and generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of movement of the polish rod I2.

Movably supported on the track way provided by the guide members I! and I8 is a pulley block it more specifically comprising bracket means carrying a plurality of spaced apart bearings 26 journalling a shaft 2i and a shaft 22 on opposite sides of the trackway. Each of the shafts 2i and 22 is provided with roller means to engage the trackway, the shaft 2| including roller means 23 and the shaft 22 including roller means 24.

At each end of each respective shaft 2! and 22 a sheave wheel 26 is journalled, the entire sheave assembly being reciprocably movable along the trackway provided by the support members I? and 18 with the pulley block l9.

On the under side of the pulley block l9 a frame bracket 2i (Figure 1) is provided and is connected in firm assembly with a piston rod 28 connected to a piston 29, forming a part of a double acting piston motor indicated generally by the reference character 38.

I'he double acting piston motor 39 preferably comprises a type of motor well known in the hydraulic arts and includes an inlet 3i at each end of a cylinder 32 regulated by a reversing valve 33 having a laterally extending actuating lever 33 (Figure 2) engaged by adjustable steps 36 and 3? carried on a stop rod depending from the pulley block is in transversely spaced relation to the cylinder 32. Since the stop rod 38 reciprocates with the pulley block i9, proper spacing of the adjustable stops 3?) and El fix the limit positions so that the flow of a pressurized fluid from a motor driven pump (not shown) into the conduit 39 will selectively control the operation of the motor 3i].

'The cylinder 32 of the motor 31] has a mounting bracket 35 on the underside thereof pinned as at ii in pivotal relation to a stationary bracket 12 carried by the upright support members ii and i8.

Two separate pulley ropes are provided, one for each respective pair of sheave wheels 26. One end of each of the pulley ropes 56 is made stationary by afiixing same in firm assembly to the frame it, for example, as shown in Figure 2, L

by affixing the end to a cable bracket ll carried by the upright support member IS. The pulley rope is then threaded over an adjacent sheave wheel 25 and thence to an idler sheave wheel 48 journalled on each respective end of a shaft is carried by a bearing bracket 53 mounted in firm assembly between the upright support members El and i8.

From the idler sheave wheel 43, the pulley rope it is threaded over another of the sheave wheels 2t whereupon the other end of each of the pulley ropes i6 is connected to a cross head 5i provided with a coupling 52 which effects a connection of the cross head 5| to the polish rod I2.

The weight of the deep well pumping unit including the string of sucker rods and the polish rod I2 will tend to load the pulley block E9 in one direction. Moreover, because the pulley ropes 46 are threaded over the sheave wheels 26 4 and 48, the polish rod l2 and the piston rod 28 are, in effect, interconnected so that every unit of linear movement of the piston rod 28 will be matched by a corresponding or unison or linear movement or" the cross head 51, and hence of the polish rod 12.

The improved counterbalancing mechanism of the present invention will now be described.

The top side of the frame 16 carries a platform 58. In opposite sides of the platform 56 are mounted brackets 51 (Figure 1) each carrying a bearing member 58 journalling the opposite ends of a shaft 59.

A drum or pulley wheel 60 is co-rotatably mounted on the shaft 59 is spaced relation to a second drum or pulley wheel 6|, which is likewise co-rotatable with the shaft 59.

A pair of cable members 62 and 63, respectively, are associated with the pulley wheels 60 and 6!, each of the cable members 62 and 63 carrying a connector 64 (Figure 2) at the end thereof for locking a counterweight bracket 66 in assembly therewith by means of fasteners 61. Mounted on the counterweight bracket 66 are a plurality of counterweights indicated at 68.

The opposite end of each of the cable members t2 and 83 is reeled onto the respective pulley wheels 60 and 5! and is firmly connected to each of the wheels as indicated at 69. Thus, the counterweights 58 impose a torque load on the shaft 59 by virtue of the rotative coupling action and the shaft 59 together with the pulley wheels Bii and 65 will tend to be rotated by the counterweights 68 in clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2.

In Figure 3, a diagrammatic view is shown of an actuating apparatus corresponding to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 271,528, filed February 14, 1952, wherein the pulley block 19 is connected'to the shaft 59 by means of a pulley system including a cable member 55 reeled onto a drum or pulley wheel carried by the shaft 59 so as to rotate the shaft 59 in counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 3.

Although the arrangement of Figure 3 affords almost an exact counterbalance insofar as the loading of the pulley block is is concerned through the addition or subtraction of the number of counterweights $8 on the cable members 62 and 63, it will be appreciated that the stroke of movement of the counterweights 68 will be of considerable length and, accordingly, the utility of the counterbalanced actuating apparatus for the well pumping unit will be dependent upon the physical height dimension of the framework structure rising above the well W as Well as by the relative diameters of the pulley Wheels 60, El and the reeling drum connected to the cable member 55.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a block and tackle rig having at least a single whip is physically interposed in the pulley system between the movable pulley block it and the counterweights 68 so that the stroke of the counterweights 68 relative to the stroke of the movable pulley block is may be effectively regulated.

As is illustrated in the particular structural embodiment of the drawings, flexible connector means are provided between the shaft 59 comprising a support bracket ll) having two strands of chain El and 52 extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the teeth 13 of a sprocket wheel 14 mounted inwardly adjacent each of thepull'ey wheels Eli-and B t. Eacl'r-ofthe-sprecket wheels-1 4 is c'orotatably' mounted on the shaft 59- and'the respective strands or-chain H and 1 2 have-their ends firmlyconnected to the peripheral tooth surface-of each respective sprocket T4 so that the chains H and 1 2- can-bethreaded overthe teeth 1-3 to impose a retativecoupling load on theshaft 59 tending to rotate the sprockets Ht together with the shaft 59 in a counterclockwise direction as-seen in Figure 2-.

The mounting bracket W- carriesapair of spaced pins-16 adjacent the under side thereof eachmounting a sheave Hi It will beunderstood that-the term; sheave as used in describing the member" I R is employed in a; generic sense and identifies any rotatable memberoperableas a pulley Wheel; In the ill'ustrated embodiment, the sheave 1-! takes the form" of asprocket having circumierentially spaced teeth. 1 v the illustrated embodiment, theblock and tackle attachment interposedibetween the: pulley block: [*9 and the shaft 19 includesa single whip. In other words, the pulley rope means provided forthe blockand tackle arrangement includes a single strand for each of-the respectivesheaves H identified by the reference: numeral 18-. Each respective strand- 18 has-a stationary end. 19 con:- nected to the platform 1:6 by abracketconnector sn mounted firm assembly onthe upright sup- 'port members'll and-I8 Each-strand. 1 is-further provided with a movable-end Bit connected to the movablepulley block'- l-9-i v I In the illustrated embodiment'the strands 1 8 include a doublelength chain, one chain being threaded over each respective sprocketll and engaging the teeththereon 7 By virtue of the arrangement thus: provided, the movable pulley block I95 andthe counterweigl'its 6*8 as-well as thc polislr rod liland the string of sucker rods and the deepiwell' pumping unit attached thereto will'ail: be reciprocate'd in unison with the actuation of the-piston- 29 in the cylinder 32 of'the motor 30.

' -The advantageous operating characteristics of thepresent invention are clearly demonstrated in Figured of the. drawing As will be noted upon comparing Figures- 3 and 4., the-movement of the support brackets H! together with the: sheaves ll in the spacing dimension between the shaft 59 and the movable pulley block H-i will be quite small in quantitative value as is illustrated by the diiierence between the full line position of the bracket lilandthe dotted line position thereof. Accordingly, theinterposition of the block and tackle: rig in the pulley connection between the pulley block is counterweight enables-the power means to be reciprocated at slower speeds than have been heretofore required and because of the mechanical advantages effectively exploited through the utilization of the various pulley systems described, the power requirements for successful operation ofthe actuating apparatus are actually reduced.

Furthermore, the increased length of stroke of the well pumping unit and the decreased length of stroke of the counterweights minimizes wear and tear on the pumping apparatus, thereby cutting down onthe necessity of providing expensive maintenance.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon ali such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as myinvention:

1. In a counterbalanced deep well pumping apparatus of the type havinga rod connected to a deep well pump unit and a counterweight; a reciprocating motor having a linearly movable reciprocating drive member, a first pulley means including a compounded pulley rope connected to said drive'member and said rod to move the pump unit in unison with the drive member, and a second' pulley means connected to said counterweight and' to said drive member to move the counterweight in unison with the drive member, said second pulley means including a block and tackle having at least a single whip connected to said; drive member to reduce the stroke of the counterweight.

In combination, a counterbalanced deep well pumping unit having an actuating rod reciprocable through a predetermined stroke and a counterweight movable in unison with said rod through a stroke of predetermined length, a drive means having a linearly movable reciprocating drive member, a first pulley" connector operatively connected between said rod and said drive member to reciprocate said rod inunison with said drive member, and a second pulleycon nector operativcly connected between said counterweight and said drive member to reciprocate said counterweight in unison with said drive member, said second pulley connector including a block and tackle interposed therein andhaving at. least a single whip connected to said drive member for reducing the stroke of said counterweight.

3. In combination, a counterbalanceddeep well pumping unit having a reciprocating actuating rod connected thereto, a drive means having a linearly movable reciprocating drive member, a compound pulley connection operatively connected between said rod and said drive member, the stroke of said rod and the stroke of said drive member being in proportion to the compounding of said pulley connection, whereby said rod will be reciprocated in unison with said drive memher, and a counterweight mechanism counterloading said drive member and comprising a rotatable shaft, weights'having a flexible connector means wound on said shaft to torque load said shaft in one direction, pulley block means including'pulley wheel means having a flexible-con nector means wound on said shaft to torqueload said shaft in an opposite direction, said pulley block means including a pulley rope means having one end stationarily connected and movable and trained over said pulley wheel means and being connected to said. drive" member; thereby to reduce the stroke of saidweights.

4. Actuating means for a deep well pumping unit of the type having a polish rod reciprocable in a well head, comprising, a linearly reciprocable pulley block, pulley Wheels on said block, pulley means including a pulley rope threaded over said pulle Wheels on said pulley block and having one end connected to said polish rod of the deep Well pump unit, thereby to load the pulley block in one direction, continuous biasing means connected to said pulley block to load the pulley block in an opposite direction, thereby to counterbalance the load on said pulley block, said continuous biasing means including linearly movable counterweights, a pulley means connecting said counterweights to said pulley block and including a block and tackle rig having at least a single whip, and drive means connected to said pulley block. to selectively reciprocate said pulley block for actuating said deep well pump and for moving said counterweights all in unison.

5. In a deep well pumping apparatus, a pulley block, pulley wheels on said block, guide means supporting said block for linear reciprocation, pulley means including a pulley rope threaded over said pulley wheels on said pulley block and having a stationary end, a polish rod reciprocable in a Well head of a deep well pump, and a movable end on said pulley rope connected to said polish rod of the deep well pump, thereby tending to load the pulley block for movement in one direction, a pulley wheel means superjacent said guide means, a counterweight movable through a stroke of predetermined length in a direction parallel to the stroke of said polish rod, pulley rope means cooperating with said pulley wheel means and being operatively connected to said pulley block and to said counterweight to counterbalance the pulley block, said pulley rope means including a block and tackle rig having at least a single whip to reduce the stroke of said counterweight, and drive means to selectively reciprocate said pulley block for operating the deep well pump and for moving the counterweights all in unison,

6. Actuating means for a well pumping apparatus rising above a well comprising a movable pulley block, guide rails supporting said pulley block for linear reciprocating movement, a first pulley means cooperating with said movable pulley bloc and connected to the rod of a deep well pump depending into the Well, whereby the pulley block is loaded in one direction, a stationary pulley block, a second pulley means cooperating weights translatable on a path of movement generally parallel to the movement of said polish rod, a block and tackle rig interconnecting said movable pulley blcck and said weights to reduce the efiective stroke of the counterweights, and drive means to reciprocate the pulley block for operating the deep well pump and for moving the counterweights all in unison.

'7. Actuating means for a well pumping apparatus rising above a well, comprising, a. frame, guide means on said frame, a pulley block carried by said guide means for linear reciprocation thereon, a pair of pulley wheels on said pulley block, a cable trained over each of said pulley wheels, one end of each of said cables being stationarily connected to said frame, a cross head member connected to the other end of each of said cables, said cross head member connected to the rod of a deep well pump depending into the well, thereby to load the pulley block in one direction, bearing means on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearing means, drum means carried by said shaft and having flexible cable means reeled thereon, a plurality of counter- Weights movable along an axis of movement generally parallel to the axis of the well and being connected to the free end of said flexible cable means, sheave means carried by said shaft and a second flexible cable means reeled on said sheave means and being connected to said pulley block, said weights arranged to counterbalance said pulley block, said second flexible cable means including a block and tackle rig to reduce the effective stroke of said counterweights, and drive means to reciprocate said pulley block for operating the pump and for moving the counterweights in unison therewith.

8. An actuating means for a well pumping apparatus comprising a frame adapted to overlie a well, a guide means on said frame, a pulley block carried by said guide means for linear reciprocation thereon, a pair of shafts on said pulley block, a pulley wheel on the ends of each of said shafts, bearing means on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearing means, a first drum means carried by said shaft, a first cable means reeled on said first drum means and having a counterweight connected to the end thereof to rotate the shaft in one direction, a second drum means carried by the shaft, comprising toothed sprocket wheels, a second cable means reeled on said second drum means and comprising a double strand chain having one end connected to said sprocket wheels and the other end connected to said pulley block so that movement in one direction of said pulley block will tend to rotate the shaft in an opposite direction, said second cable means having a block and tackle rig interposed in the length thereof to reduce the stroke of said counterweights, and drive means to reciprocate said pulley block, said pulley block having pulley means operatively connected therewith, a deep Well pumping unit having a rod depending into the well, said rod operatively connected to said pulley means thereby to operate the Well in unison with movement of the pulley block.

9. In a well pumping actuating apparatus of the type having a reciprocating motor with a linearly movable reciprocating drive member, Well pumping means loading said drive member in one direction, and counterweight means counterbalancing said reciprocating drive member, said counterbalancing means including a plurality of counterweights, pulley means operatively connecting said reciprocating drive member and said counterweights to move said counterweights along a path of movement parallel to the reciprocating path of said drive member and including a block and tackle rig having at least a single whip to reduce the effective stroke of the counterweights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 307,998 Smith Nov. 11, 1884 1,616,979 MacClatchie Feb. 8, 1927 

